Three UND players named WCHA Scholar-Athletes

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota senior goalie Brad Eidsness, sophomore forward Taylor Dickin and sophomore defenseman Dillon Simpson have each been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Scholar-Athletes today by the league office.

To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, conference-member student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his present institution.

Eidsness, a graduate student from Chestermere, Alberta, was one of 14 WCHA players to earn the honor for the third straight year, while Dickin and Simpson were both first-time honorees. Dickin is an undeclared major from Winnipeg, Manitoba, while Simpson is a pre-entrepreneurship major from Edmonton, Alberta.

“It is with a great deal of pride today that we announce our seventh annual group of WCHA Scholar-Athletes,” said WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod, associate commissioner Sara Martin, Michigan Tech Athletics Director Suzanne Sanregret and University of Minnesota Faculty Representative Perry Leo in a joint statement.

“This announcement has become one of the real highlights for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association each season as it focuses attention on a truly exceptional group of student-athletes. These outstanding young men and women have gone above and beyond to achieve great success both on and off the ice and their accomplishments are a testimony to the amount of dedication and hard work they put in throughout the school year. Together, they represent their teams and their league in a most impressive way and we could not be more proud of each and every one of them. On behalf of the entire WCHA, We wish them all the success in the world.”

UND has now had 22 WCHA Scholar-Athlete recipients since the award was introduced during the 2005-06 season.